From gunpowder to unmanned drones, these are the mechanisms and machinery man has created to wage war—on land, at sea and in the air.

Through centuries of armed conflict, weapons have evolved from arrows to swords to the technological development that left them all behind: gunpowder. Since then, advances in weaponry have been both awe-inspiring and frightening.

Flint & Steel

After firearms evolved from a rifle to a shotgun and bolt-action rifle, inventor Walter Hunt developed the concept of a "magazine" for easier loading of semi-automatic and automatic weapons.

Rifles & Machine Guns

The United States' 280mm Howitzer, Atomic Annie, was first tested in 1953, firing a 365kg fission warhead 10,000 meters high. Artillery itself has a long and distinguished history going back through time to the dawn of gunpowder.

Artillery: Bombard to the Howitzer

Since the earliest civilizations in Assyria, Egypt and Greece, man has erected forts, barricades and battlements to protect his personal property. Some of the oldest defensive structures still exist today.

Fortification: Bollards to Bunkers

Tanks were originally invented as an extension of armory to protect soldiers from enemy fire, but as personal armor became too heavy, tanks became globally accepted in warfare.

Tanks & Armored Vehicles

Since the 2nd millennium BC, ships have been used for trade, exploration, piracy, and transporting troops to battle, with formal navies appearing from the 6th and 7th centuries.

Battleships & Flotillas

While the earliest submarines can be traced back to the time of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, the first military submarine was designed and constructed by American inventor David Bushnell in 1776. Today, subs play a key role in defending many countries.

Submarines

Times have changed since the first fighter aircraft, which were flimsy contraptions made of wood and fabric. Today, fighter pilots control multimillion-dollar machines.

Fighter Aircraft

Although the U.S. launched the world's first air bombing tests in 1910, the first plane used in combat was the German Rumpler Taube in 1911. Zeppelins were also popular for their bomb-carrying capacity and ability to fly over long distances.

Airborne Artillery

Unguided rockets and guided missiles are essential components of any military arsenal. Different types of remotely or internally guided missiles include anti-tank or anti-aircraft missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and ballistic missiles.

Rockets & Missiles

In the early 1480s, Leonardo Da Vinci's "aerial screw" design served as inspiration for the helicopter, which has since developed into a versatile war machine used for combat, troop transport and airlifting the wounded.

Air Defense & Surveillance Helicopters

Since the end of World War II and the advent of the Cold War, nuclear destruction has been a constant threat. Despite recent attempts to slow or stop nuclear proliferation, countries such as North Korea, China and Pakistan have continued to develop their own nuclear missiles.

Nuclear Weapons

NBC—Nuclear, Biological and Chemical—are the three weapons of mass destruction. Biological and chemical weapons have been used extensively in warfare throughout history. Technology has advanced to manufacture—and defend against—these and other brutal weapons.